Five Point Someone - What not to do at IIT

infobox Book |
name = Five Point Someone - What not to do at IIT
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = The cover of "Five Point Someone - What not to do at IIT" by Chetan Bhagat.
author = Chetan Bhagat
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = India
language = English
series =
genre = Fiction
publisher = Rupa & Co.
release_date = 2004
media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
pages = 270
isbn = 8129104598
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Five Point Someone - What not to do at IIT!" is the debut (2004) novel written by Chetan Bhagat, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. It is one of the highest selling English novels published in India, and remained on the bestseller list until 2007 since its release in 2004.

Description

The novel is set in the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in the period 1991 to 1995. It is about the adventures of three mechanical engineering students (and friends), Hari Kumar (the narrator), Ryan Oberoi, and Alok Gupta, who fail to cope with the "cruel" grading system of the IITs and come to be known as five pointers due to their perennially low 5.something GPA's.

The book is narrated in the first person by Hari, with some small passages by his friends Ryan and Alok, as well as a letter by Hari's girlfriend Neha Cherian. It deals with the lives of the three friends whose elation on making it to one of the best engineering colleges in India is quickly deflated by the rigor and monotony of academic work. Most of the book deals with the numerous attempts by the trio to cope with and/or beat the system as well as Hari's fling with Neha who just happens to be the daughter of Prof. Cherian, the domineering head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

While the tone of the novel is humorous, it takes some dark turns every now and then, especially when it comes to the families of the main characters. Most of the action, however, takes place inside the campus as the boys, led by the ever creative Ryan, frequently lamenting how the internationally lauded IIT system has stifled their creativity by forcing them to value grades more than anything else. Uninspiring teaching and numerous assignments adds to their woes although the boys do find a sympathizer in Prof. Veera, the new fluid mechanics professor.

Characters

HariHe is the main character and also the narrator of the story. Hari is a shy guy who always longs to be smart and handsome like his friend Ryan. Hari is an average student and overweight..

AlokHe is one of the supporting characters of the story and is usually portrayed as a fat and cry baby sort of guy. He is usually worried about how he would get a good job in Delhi only so that he can support his family consisting of his half paralyzed father, always complaining mother and a sister, who's of marriageable age. He is referred as 'Fatso' by Ryan who thinks that Alok is up to no good. He loves eating food (especially butter chicken).

RyanRyan is an another supporting character, and the most different of the lot. According to Hari, Ryan is perfect as he is handsome, muscular, and has a great attitude, unlike Alok and Hari who are the total opposite. His parents are settled abroad and send him money regularly, although he does not seem to appreciate them much. He loves his friends more than anything else.

NehaShe is Prof. Cherian's daughter. She and Hari have a relationship. She is a bubbly, sweet and naive girl.

Prof. CherianHe is the traditional and domineering head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, as well as the father of Hari's girlfriend Neha.

Prof. VeeraHe is the new innovative fluid mechanics professor who manages to form a connect with the trio.

Awards

*Society Young Achiever's Award (2004)
*The Publisher's Recognition Award (2005)

Adaptations

*It was adapted into a play by the theatre group "Madras Players".

*A Hindi film titled "Three Idiots" by director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra's is currently in production. It stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and R. Madhavan, and is loosely based on the novel.

See also

*One Night @ the Call Center
*The Three Mistakes of My Life